Lehr heating section

ABSTRACT

A lehr heating section for heat treating glass is disclosed. The tunnel walls have an irregular surface to cause turbulence in air convection currents and to provide for heat expansion. The burner section uses refractory blocks orientated by pins and recesses so as to avoid the use of mortar.

United States Patent I Clark June 26, 1973 [54] LEI-1R HEATING SECTION I 1,622,663 3/1927 Mulholland 263/46'X Inventor: Willard Clark, F n Ind. 1,416,622 5/1922 Amsler 263/46 [73] Assignee: Maul Bros., Inc., Milville, NJ. Primary Examiner john J Camby [22] Filed: May 17, 1971 Attorney--Seidel, Gonda & Goldhammer [21] Appl. No.1 144,184

' 57 ABSTRACT g A lehr heating section for heat treating glass is dis- [58] "5 R closed. The tunnel walls have an irregular surface to I 2 cause turbulence in air Convection currents and to provide for heat expansion. The burner section uses refractory blocks orientated by pins and recesses so as to [56] References Cited d the e fm rtar. UNITED STATES PATENTS us 0 3,261,596 7/1966 Bowman 263/8 R 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures .1 9 I V 74'\ 6Q I v J 1", L... 5 C e e x.'-o, l

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"I "W f.'--" 50 46 8 20 36 38 P'ATENIEDJms 191a SHEU 1 Bf 4 INVENTOR WILLARD CLARK A TTORNE'YS PATENIEDJms 197s SHEEI 2 BF 4 NY mm 26000000 INVENTOR WILLARD CL ARK A TTORNEYS PATENTED JUN 26 I975 SHEHRBF I INVENTOR WILLARD CLARK A TTORNE'YS LEHR HEATING SECTION This invention is directed to a lehr heating section, more particular to heat treating apparatus for glass containers and the like. A typical glass container heat treating lehr includes a heating section, an annealing section, a cooling section, and a packing section, in that order.

The lehr heating section of the present invention utilizes tunnel walls having an irregular surface. The irregular surface causes turbulence of convection air currents moving along the inside walls and ceiling of the tunnel. The turbulence homogenizes the air and controls the drift movement so as to provide for a more uniform air temperature and produce a good grade of annealing across the lehr from side to side.

The irregular surface of the tunnel walls reflect rays from radiant heaters so that the rays are reflected in different directions. This in turn also provides for a more weight heat distribution.

The irregular surface of the tunnel walls also provides for structural strength so that the side walls and ceiling will support their own weight as well as additional weigh of related parts connected to them. Further, the irregular surface on the tunnel walls provides for a built-in automatic heat expansion and contraction factor.

The bottom of the tunnel is defined by the top run of an open mesh endless belt. Glassware and other items to be heat treated are moved through the tunnel by means of the top run of the endless belt. Beneath the top run of the endless belt, there is provided a burner section.

The lehr heating section of the present invention includes the burner section structurally interrelated in a novel manner. In a conventional burner section, refractory blocks are joined together by mortar. A substantial period of time involving many days is required to permit the mortar to dry and form a bond. Burner sections having refractory blocks joined together by mortar require skilled labor.

The burner section of the present invention does not utilize mortar thereby avoiding the need for skilled labor while at the same time provides a burner section which may be assembled in a manner of hours. Hence, the burner section may be constructed in a substantially smaller period of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel apparatus in the form of a lehr heating section.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lehr heating section having tunnel walls constructed so as tocause turbulence in air convection currents moving along the inside walls and ceiling of the tunnel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lehr heating section having tunnel walls con structed in a manner so as to automatically provide for expansion and contraction due to heat.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lehr heating section having tunnel walls for reflecting radiant heat rays to more evenly distribute heat across the lehr from side to side.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lehr heating section having a burner section which does not require the use of mortar.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lehr heating section having a burner section ferred; it being understood, however, that this inven-- tion is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front end view of the lehr heating section of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the refractory block arrangement in the burner section.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a portion of a tunnel wall.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a lehr heating section designated generally at 10. The apparatus 10 includes side frames 12 and 14. The side frames 12 and 14 support bearings for parallel idler rollers 16 and 18. An endless metal mesh conveyor belt 20 extends around rollers 16 and 18.

The apparatus 10 includes a tunnel 26 defined at the bottom by the top run of belt 20. The entrance to the tunnel 26 is controlled by a vertically reciprocable door 22 made of refractory material. Door 22 is capable of being moved upwardly or downwardly so as to accommodate glassware of different heights by means of winch 24 attached to the door by cables 28.

As the top run of the belt 20 moves through the tunnel 26, it is guided onits side edges by means of appropriately mounted guides 21 and 23. From below, the top run of belt 20 is supported by a plurality of parallel belt frames 30 and 32.'Each of the belt frames 30 is T- shaped in section and aligned with one of the belt frames 32 of the same shape. Adjacent ends of the belt frames 30 and 32 are supported by a transverse support 33. The remote ends of the belt frames 30 and 32 are supported by transverse Irshaped support members 31 and 35 which in turn are supported by the side walls of the apparatus 10. 7

Below the belt frames, there is provided a burner section designated generally as 34. The burner section 34 includes a metal sheet 36 supported from below by transverse support members 38 at spaced points therealong. On top of the sheet 36, there is assembled a plurality of spaced parallel rows-of deflector blocks 40, each having an inclined surface 42. Between adjacent rows of the deflector blocks 40, there is provided one or more conventional g'as burners 44 positioned so that heated air exiting from ports 43 thereof is deflected by the surfaces 42 and directed upwardly through the top run of mesh belt 20 toward glassware supported thereon.

The rowsof deflector blocks 40 are supported by the sheet 36 and spaced therefrom by a support block 46. The burners 44 are supported by the sheet 36 and spaced therefrom by either a support block 46 or a support block 48. The blocks 48 are smaller than the blocks 46. Each of the blocks 40, 46, and 48 are refractory blocks. The entire arrangement. of refractory blocks as illustrated in FIG. 4 is attained without the use of mortar. Orientation of the blocks is accomplished by way of pins 50 extending from the sheet 36,

through holes in the blocks 46, and into blind recesses in the bottom surface of the deflector blocks 40. As will be apparent from FIG. 4, at least two pins are utilized to orientate each of the deflector blocks 40.

The refractory portion of the burner section is provided with a row of end blocks 52 at the downstream end, spaced side blocks 54, and a row of end blocks 56 at the upstream end. All of the above mentioned blocks are of a commercially available refractory suitable for use with temperatures up to 2,300" F. The upstream end blocks 56 are embraced by a channel 57. The downstream end blocks 52 are embraced by a channel 59. The channels 57 and 59 are welded or otherwise connected to the ends of the sheet 36.

The side walls of the burner section include removable side panels 58. Each side panel 58 is opposite one of the burners 44. This permits the entire burner 44 to be removed in the transverse direction separately and independently of the other burners 44. Each side panel 58 includes an observation hole closed by a movable door, not shown. The side panels 58 may be removed in any convenient manner but preferably are removed by unscrewing a bolt in each corner thereof.

The apparatus includes a roof designated generally as 60 and includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. See FIG. 2. The upstream portion of the roof 60, immediately adjacent to door 22, includes a refractory layer 62 having imbedded therein a plurality of rows of radiant heaters 64. The downstream portion of the roof 60 is defined by roof section 66. The entire roof 60 is supported by tunnel walls 68 and 70 as well as outer skins or wall panels.

The tunnel walls 68 and 70, and the roof section 66, are constructed in a novel manner so as to have an irregular surface which will cause turbulence of convection air currents moving along the inside walls and ceiling of the tunnel. The turbulence homogenizes the air and controls the drift movement so as to provide a more uniform air temperature conducive to annealing across the lehr from side to side.

The irregular surface of the tunnel walls 68 and 70 also reflects heat rays from the radiant heater 64 in different directions so as to cause an even heat distribution. In addition, the construction of the tunnel walls 68 an 70 provides for additional structural strength so that they may support the ceiling and other components associated therewith. At the same time, the construction of the tunnel walls 68, 70 and the roof section 66 provide for automatic heat expansion and contraction.

In FIG. 5, there is shown a partial perspective view ofa portion of the tunnel walls 68, 70 as well as the roof section 66. It will be noted that these walls are constructed from a base sheet 72 having an irregular surface defined by spaced parallel projections 74.

The projections 74 extend out of the plane of the base sheet 72 and include converging portions 76 and 78 connected to a bight 80. The bight 80 may be parallel to the base sheet 72. On the roof section 66, projections are designated as 74'.

The projections 74' are aligned with the projections 74 on the tunnel wall 68 and 70. However, the projections 74' extend away from the tunnel 26. The projections 74 and 74 may have other configurations than those shown so long as they define an irregular surface performing the functions described above. It is preferred to make the tunnel walls 68 and 70 as well as the roof section 66 from 16 gauge T-3 l 6 stainless steel with the projections 74 having a bight which is less than the width between adjacent projections and spaced from the base sheet by a distance which is less than the distance between adjacent projections. While the projections 74 and 74' extend out of the plane of the base sheet, for ease of manufacture, projections can be formed in other manners whereby the projections are discrete members attached to the base sheet. Tunnel walls having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 may be made by stamping, extruding, etc.

Since lehrs for heat treating glassware are well known to those skilled in the art, it is not deemed necessary to explain the manner in which the heat treating section of the lehr is utilized. Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize the manner in which the heat treating lehr will be utilized and the novel features thereof.

The manner in which the refractory position of the burner section 34 is assembled without mortar should be apparent. The sheet having upstanding pins 50 connected thereto is positioned on the frame. Thereafter the support blocks 46 and 48 are placed on the sheet 36 so that the pins 50 extend through holes in the blocks 46. Thereafter the blocks 40 are mounted on the exposed portions of pins 50. The side blocks 54 are approximately positioned at the ends of the rows of deflector blocks 40 so as to be located between adjacent panels 58. If desired, pins 50 may be used to orientate the blocks 54 in their proper position. portions The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A lehr heating section comprising housing structure having a tunnel and a burner section below the tunnel, an endless belt having a top run within the tunnel at the bottom thereof adjacent the upper portion of the burner section, said tunnel being defined by walls above said belt and having a non-planar surface for causing turbulence of convection air currents moving along the inner surface of said walls defining the tunnel to promote a uniform air temperature across the tunnel, at least a portion of said walls including a base sheet having parallel integral projections disposed out of the plane of the base sheet.

2. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 1 wherein said projections include converging portions connected by a bight, said projections being an integral part of the base sheet.

3. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 1 wherein said walls include at least a part of the roof section, said walls and roof section including projections at spaced points therealong, projections on said roof section being aligned with projections on the tunnel side walls.

4. A lehr heating section comprising housing structure having a tunnel and a burner section below the tunnel, an endless belt having a top run within the tunnel at the bottom thereof adjacent the upper portion of the burner section, said tunnel being defined by walls having a non-planar surface for causing turbulence of convection air currents moving along the inside walls defining the tunnel to promote a uniform air temperature across the tunnel, said walls including at least a part of the roof section, said walls and roof section including projections at spaced points therealong, projections on said roof section being aligned with projections on the tunnel side walls, the projections on said roof section extending away from the tunnel and having recesses at spaced points along the roof section aligned with the projection on the tunnel walls.

5. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 4 wherein a portion of said roof includes radiant heaters upstream from the roof section having a non-planar surface.

6. A lehr heating section comprising housing structure having a tunnel and a burner section below the tunnel, an endless belt having a top run within the tunnel at the bottom thereof adjacent the upper portion of the burner section, said burner section including a plurality of burners, deflector blocks of refractory opposite each burner for deflecting heat upwardly toward the belt top run, a support means for said deflector blocks, means for orientating said blocks with respect to said support means without using mortar, said orientating means including projections extending upwardly from the support means into recesses on the bottom surface of the deflector blocks.

7. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 6 wherein said projections cooperating with said recesses include pins, at least two pins extending into mating recesses on each deflector block.

8. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 7 wherein said support means includes a base sheet, a layer of refractory support blocks on said base sheet, said pins extending from said base sheet through holes in said support blocks.

9. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 6 wherein said tunnel is defined by walls having nonplanar projections extending out of the plane of a base sheet for causing turbulence in convection air currents moving along the inside walls of the tunnel. 

1. A lehr heating section comprising housing structure having a tunnel and a burner section below the tunnel, an endless belt having a top run within the tunnel at the bottom thereof adjacent the upper portion of the burner section, said tunnel being defined by walls above said belt and having a non-planar surface for causing turbulence of convection air currents moving along the inner surface of said walls defining the tunnel to promote a uniform air temperature across the tunnel, at least a portion of said walls including a base sheet having parallel integral projections disposed out of the plane of the base sheet.
 2. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 1 wherein said projections include converging portions connected by a bight, said projections being an integral part of the base sheet.
 3. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 1 wherein said walls include at least a part of the roof section, said walls and roof section including projections at spaced points therealong, projections on said roof section being aligned with projections on the tunnel side walls.
 4. A lehr heating section comprising housing structure having a tunnel and a burner section below the tunnel, an endless belt having a top run within the tunnel at the bottom thereof adjacent the upper portion of the burner section, said tunnel being defined by walls having a non-planar surface for causing turbulence of convection air currents moving along the inside walls defining the tunnel to promote a uniform air temperature across the tunnel, said walls including at least a part of the roof section, said walls and roof section including projections at spaced points therealong, projections on said roof section being aligned with projections on the tunnel side walls, the projections on said roof section extending away from the tunnel and having recesses at spaced points along the roof section aligned with the projection on the tunnel walls.
 5. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 4 wherein a portion of said roof includes radiant heaters upstream from the roof section having a non-planar surface.
 6. A lehr heating section comprising housing structure having a tunnel and a burner section below the tunnel, an endless belt having a top run within the tunnel at the bottom thereof adjacent the upper portion of the burner section, said burner section including a plurality of burners, deflector blocks of refractory opposite each burner for deflecting heat upwardly toward the belt top run, a support means for said deflector blocks, means for orientating said blocks with respect to said support means without using mortar, said orientating means including projections extending upwardly from the support means into recesses on the bottom surface of the deflector blocks.
 7. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 6 wherein said projections cooperating with said recesses include pins, at least two pins extending into mating recesses on each deflector block.
 8. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 7 wherein said support means includes a base sheet, a layer of refractory support blocks on said base sheet, said pins extending from said base sheet through holes in said support blocks.
 9. A lehr heating section in accordance with claim 6 wherein said tunnel is defined by walls having non-planar projections extending out oF the plane of a base sheet for causing turbulence in convection air currents moving along the inside walls of the tunnel. 